What was "lost" from the 986?

[Perfectlap]

Everyone has their opinion and mine is that the looks really didn't produce an evolution.

The kidney bean headlights were 100% Porsche. They were replaced with something you'd see on many Japanese and Korean cars. That was a big disappointment for me. The 996 Turbo headlights seemed like that evolution and I was hoping to see something like that but with an update tossed in on the 987.

The doorhandle went to a traditional design from the minimalist 986. Didn't like that either.

The air intake....what in the world is that? A very fluid 986 intake form was replaced with something really bizzare.

Wheels. I haven't seen anything on the Boxster in factory form that I feel would get the 'classic Porsche' brand like the 5 spoke Carreras.

Overall, the fender lines seem more a throw back to the 993 than original Boxster concept that seem more LeMans prototype.

Interior. This is where they really lost me. The materials were a huge improvement from the plastic bits that were never updated from 1997-2004.
That was a mistake. Porsche should have upgraded the materials but kep the concept interior design. What we got instead was what I would call frumpy.
The steering wheel on the 987 and 997 in particular seem very boring to me.
The dash seems more like something you would see on VW or Audi. Porsches shouldn't look like those cars, neither the headlights nor the interiors. I know they're cousins but we are the hot cousin.

All that said, the engineering is obviously a big improvement, particularly the 3.4 engine. But as is always the case with Porsche 'over-engineering' results in a car that feels a bit more disconnected and numb.

[root_werks]

I drove a 987 and instantly noticed I would miss the mechanical connection between the throttle pedal and the throttle body. So I decided to stay with my pre-00 986.

Plus I have no money.

[fusionist]

I own a mint 2003 986 S and have driven the 987 recently for a few days when my dealer gave me a loaner. They want me to upgrade so bad they found me a loaner in the same color.

I have the same issues with the interior as Perfectlap. I don't like all the straight lines and painted plastic horizontal strips. Personally I think the 986 interior will full leather is a better design. I found the instrument cluster to be more confusing, especially when the radio kept putting song titles up in the middle of the tach?!

I also found the engine note to be less of a growl like a tiger, and more of an electronic note. In general it felt less mechanical and more electronic and complicated. To be fair it did have paddle shifters and I am a fan of simple cars. I also do not like the side vents.

There were things I did like better. I think the swept back changes to the sheet metal are nice. I like the new headlights too. I guess it's faster?.. but it didn't feel faster. It just felt easier. To me the 986 is the design that caused a sensation, and the best iteration is the 03-04 S.

The dealer was salivating when I brought it back... they thought I was crazy not to want the new one.

[stephen wilson]

Different strokes for different folks!

I like the 987 (of course, I bought one), and thought the 986 is starting to look a bit dated, including the side vents and interior. My wife says it looks a BIT less like a Miata! (sorry) I love the clean, uncluttered lines of the interior. You do get used to the scrolling station titles, but I do wish you could display only the station number(freq.). The radio presets also tend to blend together, many small buttons in a row.

Personally, if had had wanted a "raw" feeling car, I would have bought an S2000. I do wish they had kept the weight and size down though. Oddly, I like the brake pedal feel of my '94 Integra better than the 987, whih is too soft, with too much initial travel. I like a rock hard brake pedal. I didn't notice any difference in the gas pedal feel compared to "cable" cars.

Steve

I also would like to have a dipstick! ( and a spare )

[eightsandaces]

I like the 987 look and when Excellence magazine reviewed it, they commented on how much more muscular it was in performance. Still, I like my 986, especially with litronics in it and a GT3 front end and lip. A neighbor has a cherry Miata, side by side the differences are clear. The 2.5 has a very nice engine note, kept at the proper RPM's and tuned out with the enthusiasm we bring to the dance, it can run with many other sports cars in a variety of conditions. (or at least it used to, time will tell whether it becomes the consummate garage queen on stands).

[vipola]

I just upgraded from a Boxster 99 (986) to a boxster S 2006 (987S), I like the 987! It is a very nice upgrade, and I have nothing to complain.. the only thing I am missing yet (after 2-3 rides) is the windows button in the center.

I was use to do everything (Switch Gear, Control Radio, Temperature and Windows) with my right hand while leaving my left hand always on the steering. So I could put the windows up between shifting when entering on the Highway.. Now I feel all lost having to take my left hand to control windows..

But I'm sure I'll get used to it..

[JTP]

I can't say what was 'lost' from the 986, but I think alot was lost from driving in general.

Kurt, I never drove a 914/6 but I loved my 914/4! It wasn't fast, but I was living on Maui at the time so it had plenty of power for the roads there. It was a blast to drive, took a beating and never let me down.

My 2000 986S (no T/C) is the newest Porsche I've owned and love it, but compared to the old Porsches it's missing that "feel." I know modern cars with all the computer controlled throttles, transmissions, brakes, and differentials are superior in every way but is technology taking cars ahead into the future in the wrong direction? As an engineer I love all the advancements but we seem to be getting disconnected from the thrill that turned us into gearheads. Is being cushioned by a cloud of technology always a good thing? The Nissan GTR comes to mind, capable of making almost any driver look like a pro. Some cars should still be produced that still holds onto that old go-kart thrill of driving.

Are cars too safe, too easy to drive now? Seems like that's the way society of going now, safe cars, safe sex, safe war, don't spank your kids, don't yell at new recruits in Basic Training 'cuz you'll stress them out. Due to new safety standards and legislations we will never have exciting cars to drive anymore, cars that were just bare bones excitement unless you're lucky enough to save a classic car to drive. Sometimes a 50hp 356 can be more fun than a 2010 Carrera.

A good friend of mine is an ex-Navy pilot, used to be THE test pilot for the F14 Tomcat before delivery to the Navy. He told me in many ways he enjoys flying his ultralight, felt the thrill of being a pilot, over the F14!

[Orient Red]

If your car feels too safe and insulated, here is a prescription to cure it:

1) Get some sticky tires on light rims
2) Increase sway bar sizes. Might as well eliminate the understeer by maxing-out the front camber.
3) Put some grabby/noisey brake pads in.
4) Increase spring stiffness and shock damping (oh hell, might as well buy coilovers).
5) Replace the dual-mass flywheel with a lightweight single-mass unit. Might as well install a grabby clutch while you're in there.
6) Replace the exhaust with something louder. Try not to concern yourself with whether or not you are adding or losing horsepower.
7) Replace the seats with racing/sport seats. The harder to get out of the better.
8) Do something unreasonable to make the car lighter (Remove some of the carpeting/insulation? Toss the A/C?).

Whether it's a 986 or 987, your car will gain back a lot of the mechanical feedback the engineers worked so hard to insulate you from. Now it is not everybody's Porsche, it is YOUR (meaning, my) Porsche. Will it be less civilized? You bet, but when you get it out on a canyon road (or on the track) it will be well worth it!

p.s. Make sure to turn the Stabilty Control OFF!

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by Orient Red

If your car feels too safe and insulated, here is a prescription to cure it:

1) Get some sticky tires on light rims
2) Increase sway bar sizes. Might as well eliminate the understeer by maxing-out the front camber.
3) Put some grabby/noisey brake pads in.
4) Increase spring stiffness and shock damping (oh hell, might as well buy coilovers).
5) Replace the dual-mass flywheel with a lightweight single-mass unit. Might as well install a grabbly clutch while you're in there.
6) Replace the exhaust with something louder. Try not to concern yourself with whether or not you are adding or losing horsepower.
7) Replace the seats with racing/sport seats. The harder to get out of the better.
8) Do something unreasonable to make the car lighter (Remove some of the carpeting/insulation? Toss the A/C?).

Whether it's a 986 or 987, your car will gain back a lot of the mechanical feedback the engineers worked so hard to insulate you from. Now it is not everybody's Porsche, it is YOUR (meaning, my) Porsche. Will it be less civilized? You bet, but when you get it out on a canyon road (or on the track) it will be well worth it!

I'll tell you what, guys, there are a TON of older Formula cars and sports racers for sale CHEAP! Get one and go track it with a group like VDCA, SVRA or HSR. They are all Vintage racing organizations that put fun way, way, way ahead of all the BS that goes with SCCA racing. I'd love to get 10 grand for my ex-multiple-championship winning Club Ford and that's WAY less than you'll spend on the above list of stuff that will make your Boxster a pain in the ass to drive like what you bought it for!!

[Gent]

If you guys really want to appreciate your 986, do what I do and drive a 2005 diesel smart ForTwo for the winter 6 months of the year.

THEN get back into your Boxster. Hoo baby. Summer fun!

Don't get me wrong, the smart is also a performance machine; however it is a fuel economy performance machine. I love both vehicles for different reasons and each makes me appreciate the other.